A report from SI.com's Jim Trotter Wednesday evening says that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh has decided to start Colin Kaepernick at quarterback against the Saints in New Orleans in Week 12.

The report says that the decision was not based on health and that Alex Smith was informed of the decision by Harbaugh.

Kaepernick, in his the first start of his young NFL career, completed 16-of-23 passes for 243 yards and two TDs and zero interceptions in the 49ers’ 32-7 victory over the Bears on "Monday Night Football."

He played because Smith had suffered a concussion the week prior.